ok im not saying the Raptors are going to be as good as orlando (even though they are only a year removied from being a upper eaat team). not including their bench the starting lineup resembles that of orlando last season. Calderon is comparable to Nelson, maybe not in the style of play but in that they are both above average PG. Lee was a rookie who started for them at SG and had a decent year, sordof like Derozan. Both have a allstar big man (different positions and different game), and their front court consists of 2 players arpund the 6'10 mark who can spread the floor and hit 3's. Again not saying toronto will be as good, but anyone else see the resemblence?
Yeah, Toronto is looking kind of like a poor man's Magic - complete with their former SF. However, I think Chris Bosh is yet to prove he can be near the dominant force that Dwight Howard was last year, and Calderon hasn't performed under pressure the way Nelson and Alston did last season. Of course, one of Orlando's weak links was that rookie in the starting lineup, so that's not a similarity I'd necessarily be that thrilled about. All that said, the Raptors ought to be a better team next season - I'd expect them to compete for one of the last playoff spots, don't you?
I doubt DeRozan starts on this team immediately. We'll more than likely re-sign Carlos Delfino and use the MLE to strengthen our SG and SF spots. Someone from moves could start at the 2. As for the Orlando comparison, I'm not sure I see it. Both teams are built around very different franchise big men. Both have complimented them with radically different players and have different offensive philosophies (Toronto will rely a lot on the pick-and-roll, while Orlando likes to play the inside-out game with Dwight surrounded by shooters). Toronto really doesn't have many comparisons around the league. Some have called them another Phoenix-clone, but I don't see this team running nearly that much, especially with Marion gone.
Nope. not even close. Two reasons: rebounding and defense. Last year, Orlando was the 3rd best rebounding team in the league. The Raptors were 21st. By giving up Marion in favor of Hedo, your rebounding just got worse. Last year, the Magic had the 6th best defense in the league and the Raptors were 20th. Again, by giving up Marion for Hedo, your defense also got worse. Defense and rebounding win basketball games. The Raptors were weak in both areas last year, and you saw the result. They just upgraged their offense, but downgraded these other two areas. Defense and rebounding are even more important in the play-offs - and two major reasons the Magic made it to the NBA finals. Without better rebounding and defense, the Raptors won't advance in the play-offs - if they even make it, which isn't a given. BNM
DeRozan better fucking start. He is gonna be amazing and with guys like Bosh and Hedo getting him open shots, he'll be tops for ROY.
i cosign with one exception- their defense is as porous as ours but they have the ultimate eraser in d.howard. there has been a lot of lofty conjecture in raptorland about how interchangeable the raptor players are to this past seasons magic. lets examine the respective rosters: Pg: Nelson, Skip > Caledron, Roko SG: Lee and Derozan (kid hasnt played a game in the league) ? Sf: Hedo and Hedo PF: Lewis > Bargnani C: Howard > Bosh Orlando Bench > Toronto Bench
Orlando had the 6th best defense in the league last season. Yes, a lot of that is due to the DPOY manning the paint for them. Toronto doesn't have anyone even close to Dwight Howard in terms of defensive presence. Other teams will attack the paint against the Raptors at will. That doesn't work so well against the Magic. When people look at stats, they tend to only focus on offensive stats. However, it's defense and rebounding that wins games and wins championships. Toronto was weak in both areas last season and has gotten weaker. I know landing Hedo was a big deal, but by himself, he doesn't make the Raptors contenders. He does nothing to address your two biggest weaknesses (in fact, he makes them worse). The Raptors may win a few more games this season, but I still see them struggling to reach 0.500 and make the play-offs. And, if Bosh leaves next summer, it's going to get a whole lot worse. BNM
